When renovating a transitional home in Westchester County, N.Y., local design-build firm Kabela & Co. had one ask from their long-time client: to make something spectacular. From the modern, open-style kitchen to a functional garage with lots of storage space, husband and wife duo and founders of Kabela & Co. Kacper and Izabela Tokarski took that ask to the next level.
One area they knew needed to be exceptional was the basement, where they planned a full wine cellar for the homeowner’s extensive wine collection. The Tokarskis set out to design a fully functional—yet beautifully designed—storage system to hold the approximately 3,500-bottle collection.
“One thing that we knew about [the homeowner] is that he is a huge wine lover, so when thinking about the wine cellar, it was like a light bulb turned on; it was a happy ever after,” says Kacper. “He collects a lot of wine, so we created space in his basement that was a true wine cellar with air conditioning, insulated walls, and proper storage for the bottles.”
A Wine Cellar Inspired by Tradition
When designing the cellar, Kabela & Co had a few parameters to work within: the space needed to be functional for the client and it needed to work within the set budget that they were given.
With this in mind, the Tokarskis made a plan to design a space that fit within the existing fabric of the home but also emulated traditional aspects of wine cellars seen in France and Italy. With much of his collection coming from France, Italy, and California, Kacper says the homeowner had taken trips to Europe to get inspiration from the wine cellars there.
This can be seen throughout the design, particularly in the ceiling which is textured to look like the traditional stucco and stone walls seen throughout Europe. According to Kacper, it was important for them to keep the space both true to traditional wine cellars while still matching the rest of the home.
“The idea of the design is to build something that would go well with the house. We wouldn’t want to do a very modern wine cellar, even if it’s very beautiful, if it’s disconnected from the rest of the house,” says Kacper.
Creating a Space That Feels Like an Experience
When standing outside of the cellar, Kacper explains that you can see in from a large window in the mahogany entrance door. The cellar is armed with a security alarm and can only be entered by those who are permitted to do so.
Upon entering, you’re met with walls of wine, all labeled and categorized for easy organization. Constant temperature control ensures the wine is properly cared for while smart lighting makes it convenient for the homeowner to control lighting settings for different uses.
The mahogany from the door is carried throughout the cellar, and the traditional design of the space can further be seen through the antique mirrors that line the back walls. The space also features integrated, hand-carved panels that fit the look of the room while functionally hiding heating and cooling vents.
In the center of the room, is a glass island holding both half and full size bottles of wine. While serving as both a focal point in the room and adding more storage space, the island also offers the homeowner a place to enjoy a glass of wine.
“Its all about the experience,” says Kacper.